Deaf History Month, 2020

Celebrating Deaf History Month                                       
March 13 - April 15, 2020
As many people know, March 13th to  April 15th marks Deaf History Month. These dates represent some key moments in Deaf history. These dates also continue to inspire and impact the Deaf community today. 

First, March 13th was the date of the first-ever Deaf civil rights victory that drew global attention. This happened in 1988 and it was called Deaf President Now (DPN). In many ways, DPN led to the eventual passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act two years later on July 26th, 1990. DPN showcased the activism of the Deaf community as we fought for recognition.

A second date that falls into Deaf History Month is April 8th. On April 8th, 1864, the charter for the first-ever higher education institution for the deaf in the world, Gallaudet University, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. As a result of this, many Gallaudet alumni and supporters made a difference in the United States and globally.

The third date for the month, and the conclusion date of Deaf History Month, April 15th brought about the opening of the first-ever state school for the Deaf in the United States. On April 15th, 1817, the American School for the Deaf opened in Hartford, CT. It introduced American Sign Language (ASL) in the classroom and made Deaf pupils bilingual in ASL and written English.

We hope you enjoy Deaf History Month, and we hope you enjoyed learning these bits of information! If you would like to know more about Deaf History Month and other deaf cultural annual events, please contact us!